In reviewing The Well Digger's Daughter the Guardian's Peter Bradshaw says "You will need a slightly sweet tooth for this movie...".  Well my tooth is undeniably sweet and I loved the film.

Bradshaw makes the obvious parallel with Tess of the D'Urbevilles but thankfully that miserable and tragic tale this film is not.  Indeed one is hard pressed to imagine such a history taking place in the warm golden sunshine of Provence though I suppose that at times life there is just as dreich and dismal as in Hardy's Wessex.  Think more of the Bennets and the jollities and contretemps of Jane Austen's lovers but set in a much humbler social milieu.

This is Daniel Auteil's directorial debut and the question arises as to whether his excellent performance is a result of his fine acting or his fine directing.  He has other very fine actors in his cast so we may have to wait for his second outing to resolve the issue.

In the meantime give your emotions a treat by going to see the film and if you have an ear for French accents there's an extra treat in store.